PlayStation Nation. Are you ready for Extra Life? The friendly folks from the PlayStation.Blog team certainly are, as they’re hosting a pre-Extra Life event kicking off Friday, October 24th at 10:00 AM Pacific. Games like Spelunky (With Derek Yu!), Alien: Isolation, and maybe a few extra surprises will be appearing on the livestream. So make sure you share the news when you’re watching to help raise awareness for Extra Life.

PlayStation.Blog team will be playing games to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Oakland, so we hope you’ll join in helping the cause.

This weekend I want you to stand with us, having raised all that you can for sick and injured kids in your community. It isn’t difficult. It’s actually quite fun!

With Extra Life you simply sign up, choose a hospital to support, and share your goal of raising money for local kids with your friends and family. Invite them to donate to your campaign. Then, on Saturday, you join a 24-hour celebration of gamers from around the world, playing for kids.

This is that easy.

Last year, Extra Lifers raised over $4 million for sick and injured kids. With the support of the mighty PlayStation community, we can do even more.

So come on back to this blog post on Friday, 10/24 at 10:00 AM Pacific, and join us as we kick off this year’s Extra Life event! We’ll see you there.

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/23/watch-playstations-pre-extra-life-livestream-tomorrow/feed/9http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/extralifelead.jpg3.31Director, Extra Life93Join Extra Life, Support Children’s Hospitalshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/02/join-extra-life-support-childrens-hospitals/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/02/join-extra-life-support-childrens-hospitals/#commentsThu, 02 Oct 2014 16:15:03 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=141254As card-carrying gamers we spend an impressive amount of time impersonating champions within the games that we play. So today, the team at Extra Life is inviting you to actually be a champion for sick and injured local kids.

Since 2008, Extra Lifers have raised more than $8 million dollars for 169 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by simply binging on their favorite activity. In 2013 alone we partnered with the mighty PlayStation community to raise more than $4 million dollars.

Runners run. Bikers bike. We game.

Extra Life works a lot like traditional run, walk, or bike ride fundraisers. You sign up, choose a hospital to support, and gather donations from your network of friends and family.

It’s at this point that the Extra Life experience begins to veer off the rails from those traditional fundraising events.

Instead of showing up at a starting line, putting on a paper number, and avoiding getting trampled, Extra Lifers wake up on game day, mosey into their living rooms, and play games.

Extra Life is so easy, it may be the only fundraiser you can complete in your underwear, at least legally.

You’re the boss.

If you’re going to lend your voice, your credibility and your time to a cause, you should always know where the money goes. With Extra Life, you know exactly where it goes, because you are the decider. There are over 170 CMN Hospitals in North America and Canada, and whether you pick the one nearest you, or a hospital that has special meaning to you that’s clear on the other side of the continent, everything you raise goes to that hospital to support them in their fight to save their pint-sized patients.

We’re super flexible.

Not available for a game marathon on October 25th? No worries! Do your thing on a different date that works for you. Can’t do 24 hours? Cool. Do 12. Do 2. Do what you can. It’s going to raise funds and awareness for a children’s hospital, and help save kids’ lives.

Be the champion.

You’ve played a champion on your console. You’ve conquered lands, wielded magical items, saved a prince or princess. Today I’m asking you to be an even more important champion, IRL.

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/02/join-extra-life-support-childrens-hospitals/feed/26http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/extralife.jpg3.71Director, Extra Life260Extra Life and PlayStation Raise More Than $4 Million for Children’s Hospitalshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/27/extra-life-and-playstation-together-helped-raise-over-4-million-for-childrens-hospitals/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/27/extra-life-and-playstation-together-helped-raise-over-4-million-for-childrens-hospitals/#commentsWed, 27 Nov 2013 21:45:37 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=121702On November 2nd, 2013, thousands of PlayStation community members helped raise more than $4,000,000 for sick and injured kids at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. Together with gamers from around the world, we successfully raised more funds for these kids with Extra Life in 2013, than in the entire five-year history of the event COMBINED.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit association that organizes Extra Life, has been working with children’s hospitals across the country for the past 30 years. Older generations will remember the telethons and fundraising drives that attracted some of the biggest names in Hollywood to help raise money for this cause. In recent years, Extra Life has become a rising force for this cause and people are beginning to see that gamers’ passion is more than just for playing games; it’s a shared bond through gaming. And when we all see an opportunity to help raise money for a cause, we as the gaming community step right up and knock it out of the park!

We’re blown away when we think about what the Extra Life community has accomplished in the past six years; doubling their size and funds raised for children’s hospitals year after year. What started as a gathering of local gamers in Texas has grown into an international movement that is changing kids lives from all around the world.

So, on behalf of the more than 62 kids that enter our hospitals every minute and their grateful families; on behalf of the doctors, nurses, Child Life Specialists, and staff at our 170 local Children’s hospitals; and in memory of Victoria Jo Enmon (Tori) in whose memory Extra Life was created… thank you.

This, my friends, is what Greatness looks like to me. It looks like the PlayStation community. It looks like you. Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.

The final total for Extra Life will not be known until shortly after the New Year. However, gamers can still sign up and raise funds until Dec. 31st. If you’d like to make a direct donation to your local hospital and have your greatness counted in this year’s amazing total, please visit http://extra-life.org/donate today to select your hospital and make your gift.

This year, thousands of PlayStation gamers answered the call to help their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through Extra Life, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals and the medical treatment, programs and charitable care that is provided to kids in their communities.

Today is a huge day for children’s hospitals across North America, as our 6th Annual Extra Life main event begins at 8am. For 25 hours we will celebrate the social impact of gamers who have been fundraising for their local CMN Hospitals. And you’ll be able to watch it all live.

Not registered? Not a problem. It only takes a couple of minutes to sign up, hit the moms and best pal up for a few dollars for the kids, and then celebrate with us.

While there is a lot of talk of streaming your game play and a few elaborate physical events popping up all over the place, most people participate from the comfort of their own living room. Now I don’t have any scientific data on this, but I’d be willing to bet a measurable percentage of our Extra Life Heroes participate in their underwear. Try getting that mental image out of your head.

Before we get into the best practices in surviving Extra Life, you might want to know more about this charitable initiative and where it came from. Quite simply this whole crazy thing was born in memory of my friend, Tori. She would have been 21 years old this year. Here’s her story, and that of Extra Life for those wanting to learn more.

Now that you’re registered, here’s a suggested plan of attack for your personal Extra Life marathon.

Watch the official stream at http://twitch.tv/ExtraLife4Kids and keep up with the latest results and catch interesting interviews and videos from Extra Lifers all over the world. This is a great way to take a break and catch a little inspiration. Twitch will also be featuring over ONE THOUSAND of other Extra Life themes from heroic gamers and celebrities.

Get shut-eye: A runner wouldn’t pull an all-nighter before a marathon, so don’t slack on your Z’s the night before yours. Basic motor skills (the kind you, Gamer, desperately need) and mental endurance plummet with every hour you skimp. Be just as disciplined with keeping up on your comatose state as you are perfecting your game. And remember; if you are tired… go to bed. Get up later and finish then.

Drink up: Water is your new best friend. Even breathing requires H2O.Stay hydrated by keeping a nice, big 32-oz. water bottle by your side and fill it up five to six times throughout your 24—err, 25-hour trek (that’s right). Limit caffeine until you absolutely need it. That Venti cup of Joe or those Monster drinks should be a last-ditch emergency effort, not a plan of action.

Nosh well: Treat your body like an engine. You wouldn’t put maple syrup in your car’s tank, so don’t put starchy, sugary, processed foods in your own. Stock up on energy-producing brain foods such as fruit, veggies, complex carbohydrates and lean protein. Keep nuts and fruit by your side instead of that family-size bag of Cheetos. Fuel your body right, and it will perform at those high speeds and long hours you need it to.

Hit the pause button: Take breaks! Stretch. Walk about. Chat with a friend for a few. Powering through does not equal toughness in this game. Rest your eyes from the screen, stretch your muscles and take a jog around the block (or the house) every hour or two to get your blood flowing and keep your brain alive. Feeling sleepy? Get some zzz’s. Seriously. You can always pick up where you left off after some rest.

Brighten the mood: Playing in a dark room might seem cool at first, but that’s not going to fly at 4 a.m. Keeping the lights bright during the wee hours can help “trick” your brain into making less melatonin, the sleep hormone naturally produced when the lights go out. But if your body is screaming for a nap, listen to it.

Join a team: Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, going it alone will have you wind up like the lone, sickly antelope at the back of the stampede. Keep up your motivation, increase your enjoyment and further your success by participating with friends and family — or strangers! Remember, you can also split all 25 hours amongst several people so consider a five hour-long party with five friends.

Remember the cause: Finally, don’t forget why you’re doing this! This is 100 percent For The Kids. Revel in the fulfillment of helping sick and injured children across North America. You are saving lives, one hour at a time. Keep up the great work, and have fun!

This is going to be an incredible weekend for the generous PlayStation community as nearly 30,000 gamers stand up, or more accurately sit down to do what they love For The Kids. Before you play, however, make sure you’ve done all you can to help those kids. On behalf of our dedicated Extra Life team, I would like to thank the PlayStation community for your intense and enthusiastic response to our request for your help, and thank the folks at PlayStation for the privilege of sharing Extra Life with you.

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/02/extra-life-game-day-survival-guide/feed/9http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10061400664_661d9996aa_o.jpg4.1Director, Extra Life90PlayStation and Extra Life Team Up For Children’s Hospitalshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/03/playstation-and-extra-life-team-up-for-childrens-hospitals/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/03/playstation-and-extra-life-team-up-for-childrens-hospitals/#commentsThu, 03 Oct 2013 16:31:00 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=117010PlayStation believes in the power of our gaming community to do good in the world. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the video game based charity Extra Life to generate a call to arms to the PlayStation community to help raise money for children’s hospitals across the country.

Extra Life is a gaming event benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals and the medical treatment, programs and charitable care that is provided to kids in their communities. For years, Extra Life has motivated gamers across the U.S. and Canada to drive donations to their local member children’s hospital, and this year, PlayStation is joining their efforts.

PlayStation Prizes for Extra Life Activities

You can get involved in raising donations for children’s hospitals in need and get great prizes in the process. Here’s how:

Decide whether you want to join as an individual, create a team, or join an existing one. If you’re not sure, just join as an individual. If you decide to join a team, feel free to join any team you wish.

Select ‘PlayStation’ under the ‘What movement are you joining?’ question.

Complete the rest of the fields, it should only take a few more seconds.

Now you’ll be all set to have your own profile to share with the world and raise donations. Don’t be shy about telling your friends and family about the cause you’re supporting to raise donations!

Registering for Extra Life and being a part of the PlayStation Movement enables you to get great prizes as you raise donations. Check out the breakdown below:

Registration is open right now so sign up and start hitting these goals today to get these great prizes. Just register, select the PlayStation option under “Join a Movement”, and start sharing your goals with your friends, families, social networks, you get the idea. Prizes are open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Please allow up to 24 hours after crossing one of the levels to receive your prize. They will be sent to the email you register with Extra Life.

Join as an individual, or jump into an existing team and contribute towards a group goal. There are a ton of great teams to join, but here’s a few we recommend:

So sign up, get your exclusive PS3 theme, and start raising donations for an amazing cause. Chime in in the comments and let us know if you’re going to register, and if so, which team you’re supporting! Oh, and don’t be shy about spreading this news; it’ll be helping a great cause. ^__^